India to Use Microwaves to Transmit Power from Space

It's an incredible development scientists have been looking into for some time, but the use of microwaves to transmit electricity from solar collectors in space to anywhere on the planet may soon be a reality if one proposal by India's former president is given the necessary momentum to take flight.  The proposal by India's APJ Kalam and the National Space Society suggests that we may soon have the technology required to solve the energy crisis forever.  But there is a deadly side to this proposal even if it could essentially save the planet and give free energy to all.


 
The proposal sounds simple, but is incredibly complex at its core.  A rocket would be used to launch a massive solar array into space.  Once it reaches orbit the array would be either constructed or unfold itself into a fully capable solar collection system.  And this system would then have the ability to collect virtually an unlimited supply of solar energy to be transmitted back to the planet's surface.  How would it get the electricity to Earth below?  The solar collectors would be attached to a massive microwave transmitter which would then fire beams of incredibly powerful energy through the Earth's atmosphere to the planet below and microwave collection centers located throughout the planet.

But why haven't we created a system such as this before?  Aside from the obvious costs associated with launching a massive satellite array into space, there are some very real concerns over the means such a satellite would use to transmit energy back to the planet's surface.  A massive cable dragged into space would prove too heavy to effectively launch into space, and without the use of an orbital tower, this would be virtually impossible to create.  But the wireless transmission of energy into microwaves could allow the electricity to bypass the atmosphere, which traditionally blocks a substantial portion of light that reaches Earth and then be collected on the ground in a form usable by those working with power companies.

But is it safe to launch microwaves to the planet?  This is one of the concerns that has been raised in the past.  If such a system's navigational controls were compromised somehow, it would make this potential power generating system and savior of mankind into a disturbing and nightmarish enemy for all those on the surface of the planet.  Needless to say, there would have to be an incredibly advanced security system designed around the satellite that could shut it down remotely from Earth.  But then with people depending on the power, this system too would be dangerous.

On the other hand, if the system truly were effective and the current technological limitations were overcome in seeking clean energy, we may one day live in a world where power is limitless, and the only thing we would have to worry about from the power companies would be stray microwaves bombarding Earth from above.  Needless to say there are still a couple of things to work out.

Scientists: Swine Flu Gives Super Immune System

Those who had to suffer through the swine flu last year and earlier this year will be delighted to hear that while the experience was likely incredibly intense and draining, experts worldwide are now saying research suggests those who overcame the intense virus that started the 2010 pandemic scare may actually have super immune systems thanks to the way the human body fights off the swine flu.

Researchers are suggesting that research conducted on the Swine Flu may  soon lead to the development of a super-vaccine that could eventually wholesale prevent all forms of flu in humans.  With seemingly yearly scares over various flu vaccines and the diseases themselves, a universal flu vaccine and immune response from the body could result in an extraordinary immunity to future diseases including the once feared H5N1 bird flu.  Of course further research is being conducted at Oxford University in an attempt to glean the benefits of the disease without having to go through the debilitating and sometimes even deadly Swine Flu.

Tests began in 2008 for a universal flu vaccine, and with the various strains of the disease claiming half a million lives worldwide every year and causing others to lose days or even weeks of work time and keep them isolated from friends and loved ones.  And yet it seems that those who had the swine flu will (at least for a period) not have to worry about several strains of swine flu.

It doesn't mean you'll never get sick, but it means you're far less likely to get infected with several different strains of the flu including the 1918 Spanish flu which killed millions and the 1976 outbreak strain of flu.  Whether or not the swine flu vaccine provides any similar benefits is yet to be studied, though experts have suggested this new immunity boost works is by recovering from the illness itself.

Of course this isn't unheard of in medical circles.  Many diseases have run their course and as a result allowed for a stronger immune system.  In addition to the swine flu, Chicken Pox is often said to be a coming of age disease because once someone gets it they are more immune to it later in life.

In the past, the CDC had to use predictions to decide which vaccines were stockpiled and this inevitably led to shortages and fears of shortages occasionally over the years.  Ultimately, if the vaccines were universal they  would not have to worry about running the risk of appropriating resources toward the wrong vaccine.  And ultimately fewer people would have to take shots for the vaccine or risk wasting their time with the wrong one.

But in the mean time, it would seem those who suffered from the swine flu will be able to fight off diseases in the future more effectively than ever.  And with the flu season in full swing, that's good news to a lot of those with swine flu memories.

India will have over hundred million 3G broadband subscribers by 2015

Indian telecom market has been growing at a CAGR of approximately 30% since 1995 and still growing strong. With additions of more than 14 million subscribers per month in the pas years, the wireless subscriber base has grown to 635.51 million in present year, second only to China.However, the recently concluded 3G spectrum and BWA auction saw intense competition among the bidders resulting in a revenue inflow of Rs.1.06 trillion for the government, surpassing most estimates.

In this context, the report examines the potential for Mobile Broadband Services, its impact on the telecom industry and other allied sectors in India.

“The transformative power of mobile broadband lies in its ability to enable greater access to the internet in India. Everyone from telecom industry, Government to other industries will be able to leverage a ubiquitous platform to reach out to a wide range of customers and provide diverse products and services more effectively.”

Key highlights of the report:

1. Mobile Services: Positive Outlook- The mobile subscriber base is projected to cross 1 billion in 2014 driven by high subscriber additions in mostly rural areas.

2. More than one hundred million 3G/HSPA broadband subscribers by 2015 and growing: Given the context of non-scalable wire line infrastructure, broadband in India is expected to be delivered on a wireless platform. Mobile broadband using technologies in the BWA spectrum band, such as TDD LTE, are expected to address enterprises and high net worth individuals; while broadband volumes are likely to be driven on the mobile platform leveraging 3G and HSPA technology.

3G subscriber numbers are projected to cross 107 Mn by 2015. Initially, the uptake of mobile broadband services will almost exclusively be in urban India; however by 2015 rural subscribers are likely to comprise 24 percent of overall 3G subscriber base in 2015.

Introduction of new innovative applications, enhanced user experience, decreasing prices of 3G/HSPA enabled handsets would be key driver for mobile broadband in India.

3 Mobile broadband will be a catalyst for changing business dynamics: In terms of service offerings, currently content is largely restricted to film based entertainment and cricket. High speed access will enable content developers and aggregators to generate additional revenue by offering diverse interactive content including local language content.
Content owners will move beyond operator portals and onto direct services via internet. This will also see advertising driven models, offering benefits to the users, with advertisers partly footing the bill. This will also reflect in increased bargaining power of content developers and aggregators vis-à-vis operators.

New partnerships will emerge; handset vendors will be partnering with content owners and aggregators to embed various applications in their devices to create product differentiation. In addition, mobile operators will be using content /application brands to launch new services.

4 Cascading impact of mobile broadband services: Mobile broadband services will generate incremental revenue of Rs.940 Ban in 2015 Ban for telecom industry as a whole.

5 Financial Services, Media & Entertainment, Agriculture and other allied sectors to benefit from mobile broadband: Financial services sector could effectively leverage the platform to reach out to a large base of unbanked customers across India.

In agriculture, mobile broadband would play a role in integrating rural India with rest of the country and help widen markets, create better information flows, lower transaction costs.

India Bans Bulk SMS For 3 Days

The Ayodhya verdict has been postponed till September 28th. Rediff reports that the order has been extended till September 29th. 

Update: According to the Hindu, “For individuals, bulk SMS would be above 10 per day, while for companies it could be 100 or more.”
We’re not sure if this information is correct. I was able to send 11 SMS earlier today. We now have a copy of the DoT notification to telecom operators – download it here (pdf). There’s no mention of peer-to-peer (P2P) SMS being restricted.


Earlier: The Indian government has issued a ban on Bulk SMS and MMS services for the next 72 hours; it’s not about providing relief from SMS Spam, but about preventing a widespread panic and mob uprising given the impending verdict on the Babri Masjid land issue in Ayodhya, from the Allahabad High Court. There is fear that, given the unregulated nature of SMS and the widespread use of mobile phones in India, panic could be spread.
However, they haven’t taken into account two factors:


– SMS’ can be viral: messages have, in the past, spread from person to person across the country. It isn’t necessary that such SMS are always sent out as Bulk SMS from telecom service provider (which, incidentally, would make it easier to identify the source of the messages).


– Modem Farms: you might have noticed that at times, you get SPAM SMS’ from specific mobile numbers; for example, on 21st of September, I got a message from +918087674039, for 3 Star Hotels in Goa. At times, then the throughput requirement is not very high, or if the cost of peer-to-peer SMS is lower than Bulk SMS, modem farms are set up, wherein you just buy SIM cards, put them in modems, and fire away, paying regular SMS charges.
Banning Bulk SMS can contain mass messaging (the alternatives above cost more, have lower throughput), but can’t stop it.


Press Release from the Indian Government
Bulk SMS & MMS Messages Banned for Next 72 Hours
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology has today issued orders in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs to all Mobile Telecom Services Providers in the country for banning all bulk SMS & all bulk MMS Messages in all service areas with immediate effect for next 72 hours.